Hair clipper



M. ANDIS HAIR CLIPPER May 31, 1932.

Filed. June 16, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR.

M. ANDIS HAIR CLIPPER May 3l, 1932.

Filed June 16, 1930 2 sheaves-SMF:I

MLMYM A TTORNEYS Patented May 31, 1932 PATENT OFFICE MATHEW ANDIS, FRACINE, WISCONSIN HAIR CLIPIER Application led June 16, 1930. Serial No.461,605.

- My invention relates to improvements in electro-magnetic hair clippersof the general type disclosed in my former United -States Letters PatentNo. 1,504,595, dated August 12, 1924 for Electrically operated hairclipper and in United States Letters Patents to L. J. `Wahl, No.1,487,189, dated March 18, 1928 for Clipper and No. 1,556,654, datedOctober 6, 1925for a Blade mounting for cli pers.

n such hair clippers the movable blade is vibrated with great rapiditythe vibrating frequency corresponding with that of an alternatingcurrent where such a current is employed. In modern hair clippersl theblades occupy oblique planes at an angle of about to the plane in whichthe driving armature moves. The movable blade is necessarily held to theshear plate, or comb plate, under'uniform resilient pressure and owingto its oblique position, a resilient or yielding coupling betweenthearmature and the blade 1s necessary.

Heretofore, couplings have been employed which not only yield, but haverelatively movable members, and usually independent means are employedto hold the movable blade to the comb plate at the proper pressurebecause with any ordinary coupling the pressure and relative position ofthe armature connection is different at the ends of the stroke than itis at themiddle of the stroke,

due to the oblique position of the blade. Accordingly there is ra idwear due' to the friction of the relative y movable parts, and

i structural complications have resulted from the supposed necessity ofproviding independent pressure applying means.

The primary objects of my present invention are to solve the above-indicated problems and to provide a more eicient and durable clipper atyless cost than that incurred :in the manufacture of clippers of theaforesaid type as heretofore made.

More specifically stated, my objects are to eliminate friction, toprovide means for reg-4 in general, to provide an electro-magnetic hairclipper W 1ch can be constructed at minimum cost, easily adjusted to therequirements of any given installation and used continuously for longperiods of time without being repaired.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a hair clipper embodying the invention hereindisclosed, the cap plate being removed.

Figure 2 is also a view, in plan, of a portion of the clipper, with theswitches, lead wires and insulation plate removed to more clearly showthe armature and shunt bar mounting.

Figure 3 is a plan view with the shunt bar and associated parts alsoremoved, and with the front end of the casing partially broken away toshow the connection between the armature and the movable blade.

Figure 4 is a sectional view drawn generally to iine 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing a modified form ofconstruction for the armature and armature mounting.

Figures 6 and 7 are enlarged detail views of the switch mechanism, inplan and side elevation respectively.

Figures 8 and 9 are cross sectional views drawn generally to lines 8-8and 9 9 of Figure 4.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughoutthe several views.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4 wherein the general organization of thearmature and associated parts can be most clearly seen, it will beobserved that the armature mounting 10 comprises a block of metal whichhas a pivotally adjustable connection with the bottom ortion 11 of thecasing to which it is attached by means of the pivot screw 12. Thismounting is held rigidly in its adjusted position by means of a setscrew 13 which passes through a slot 14 in a suitable projecting plate15 carried by the mounting and r has threaded engagement with arelatively thick portion 16 of the side of the casing.

The armature'bar 20 is reversely bent or formed into a hook shaped loop21 at its rear end which passes around the lower portion of themounting, with the short leg of the loop secured thereto by a screw22,the head of which is underneath an overhanging ledge 23 on the mounting.An adjusting screw 25 passes through this ledge, 23 and its inner endbears upon the extremity of the short leg of the armature, whereby thearmature may be adjustably swung upon its connecting screw 22 to raiseor lower its front end. By this means the pressure of the movable blade30 upon the comb plate 31 may be regulated as hereinafter explained. Theplate l5 is preferably an upwardly offset extension of the ledge 23.

The connection between the armature and its mounting is at the oppositeside of the mounting from that occupied by the body of the armature, thelatter being extended along one side portion of the casing in closeproximity to one pole face of the core 32 and then laterally toward thecenter line of the handle. This inwardly extending portion 35 of thearmature is secured to the movable blade by a forked connector having aflange 36 secured to the portion 35 by a screw 37. The fork arms 39 ofthe connector extend obliquely forwardly and upwardly in generalcorrespondence with the inclination of the clipper blades but withanintermediate downward and also a lateral offset as clearly appears froma comparison of Figures 3 and 4.

Near their ends, the outer margins of these arms are provided with Vshaped notches 40 in which upwardly projecting flanges 41 of aconnecting bracket 42 may be engaged by pressing the extremities of thefork arms 39 toward each other in the planes of their flat surfacesuntil they can be passed between said flanges 41 and then releasing themto allow them to separate and engage the in-f ner ends of said flangesin the notches 40. The bracket 42 is rigidly secured to the mov' ableblade 30 and the arrangement is such that at the center of its strokethe center of the blade and the center of the space between the forkarms will be in a position near the longitudinal center line of theclipper handle.

The fork arms 39 press downwardly upon the clipper blade to hold thesame resiliently in pressure contact with the comb plate 31, the degreeof such pressure being determined by the adjustment of the screw 25 atthe other end of the armature bar. The fork arms 39 aresuflicientlynarrow to allow them to yield torsionally and permit independentconformity to the arc in which the front end of the armature bar swingsand also to the movable blade, which is continuously heldto the combplate with substantially uniform pressure during the stroke, and tendsto move in a straight line. The intermediate offset in the fork arms,and their resilience, allows their outer ends to flex with considerablefreedom in planes perpendicular to the blade, butv the intermediatelateral .offset in the arms tends to st-.i'en them except ,at theirouter ends, and facilitates actuation of the movable blade with a slightpush and pull effect, whereby its inertia may be overcome with lesstendency to twist the arms than would otherwise be encountered at theends of the stroke.

I have found that the above described connection between the armaturebar and the movable blade 30 enables me to avoid all frictional movementof the `parts upon each other. The notched margins of the fork armsmaintain an absolutely fixed relation to the bracket flanges 41, wherebythere is no friction and no wear upon these parts during the operationofthe clipper. I also find that the armature bars 20 may be made ofsufficient resilience to allow the arm to vibrate in strokes of therequired length and'that it is therefore unnecessary to allow themounting `10 to swing upon the connecting screw 12. Frictionis,therefore, eliminated at the rear end of the armature bar as well asat the front end.

To regulate the intensity of the magnetic field, notwithstandingvariations in potential,

I provide an electro-magnetic shunt. bar 50, Figure 2, which ispreferably laminated and supported at its rear end by a connecting plate51 secured to the mounting block 10 at 52. Thisv shunt bar is locatedgenerally above the armature bar 20 in spaced relation thereto and itsinwardly turned front end is provided with a projection 53 supported bya bracket 54 formed of brass or other non-mag- 7 netizable'material.This bracket 54 preferably has an arm 55 which extends over the uppersurface of the end of the shunt bar to hold the projection 53 loosely insliding relation to th'e bar portion of the bracket 54 as best shown inFigure 2.

In order that this end of the shunt bar may be adjusted to vary thegap-between it and the pole piece 47 it is provided with an arm 56 intowhich a screw 56 is threaded, the outer end of this screw being extendedthrough an aperture in the casing and provided with a head 57. A coiledcompression spring 58 is interposed between the casing wall and the arm56 to urge the arm and the associated end of the shunt. bar in thedirection of the pole piece 47, the screw being rotatively adjusted toretract the shunt bar in the opposite direction. When the intensity ofthe magnetic field is `found to be excessive it may be weakened byshortening the 'gap between the shunt bar and the pole 47. In thismanner the violence of the electro-magnetic pull upon the armature barmay be modified in accordance withvarying current loads upon the magnet,or in accordance with varying loads under which the clipper operates dueto coarseness, toughness, or thickness of the hair that is being cut.The clipper is thus made adaptable toinstallation conditions and theduty requirements of each hair clipping operation.

I have designed my improved switch mechanism conformably to the spacelimitations imposed by a casing designed to be used as a'l handle forthe clipper. The switch terminal arms and 61, preferably formed ofresilient sheet brass, are supported from the mounting l() with anintervening insulating plate 61 to which the terminal arms are directlyattached by the binding screws 65 and 66 to which the lead wires 65 and66 extend. The switch terminal arm 6l carries a laterally projectinghook shaped end portion which is provided with an upwardly extendingcorrugation 62 and a contact lip 63` whereby a rib shaped circuit closer64, the surface of which preferably has the form of an inverted V, maybe normally received Within the upwardly extending corrugations 62 butmovable, for circuit closing purposes, into a position with its apexcarried slightly beyond the lip 63. The circuit closer 64 extendsinwardly far enough to also engage and move under the arm 60 when itsapex is mov-ed past the lip 63, as above explained, thus bridging thegap between these terminals.

` This circuit closer 64 is supported by an operating arm 67 ofinsulating material which projects through a slot 68 in the wall of thecasing and carries the thumb piece 69. The operating arm 67 is adaptedto slide in the slot 68 to carry the circuit closer 64 to the abovedescribed circuit closing position in which its inner end has slidinglyengaged and lifted the terminal arm 60. Both terminal arms aresufficiently resilient to maintain pressure contact with the circuitcloser when in this position. The free extremity of the arm 6() may beslightly up turned,A to facilitate the movement of the circuit closer 64underneath it, although its sloping sides facilitate its movement with alifting effect under either terminal.

It will, of course, be understood that when the contact piece 64 is inits normal position,

Ythe terminal arm 60 will move downwardly until its extremity occupiesthe open space within the hook shaped extremity of the arm 6l but out ofContact with either leg of the hook. It will also be understood thatwhile the contact member 64 is normally beyond the end of the-terminalmember 60, its length will permit it to engage and lift said terminal`member 60 when it is shifted to the position indicated in Figure 7.

The form of the circuit closer 64 and its organization in associationwith the flat-surfaced terminal arms not only provides a compact switchmechanism whichrcan be installed in the handle kof a hair clipperwithout increasing space requirements but by this organization I alsoobtain a non-arcin'g` sliding contact switch of unusual durability andreliability as compared with switches heretofore employed for similarpurposes. I also provide a switch which can be easily manipulated by thethumb of the operator while the clipper is in use and without requiringany shift-ing of the hand upon the clipper casing.

The top of the clipper casing body is open throughout nearly its entirelength and is provided with shouldered margins to receive a cap plate72. At the ends of this opening the casing is provided with ledges 73whereby the cap plate may be secured in position by screws 74 as bestindicated in Figure l.

I claim:

l. In an electro-magnetic hair clipper having a vibratory armature barand a clipper blade obliquely disposed across the plane of barvibration, the combination therewith of a driving connection comprisinga pair of flat thin sheet metal resilient arms having their respectiveends connected with the armature bar and with the blade, andintermediately oifset transversely of the oblique plane occupied by theblade, said arms being adapted to yield torsionally and to lengthen andshorten by iexion in said offset portion, whereby to hold the bladeunder uniformly resilient pressure in a substantially straight line ofvibratory movement.

2. In an electro-magnetic hair clipper having a vibratory armature bar,a comb plate and clipper blade adapted to reciprocate upon the combplate, the combination therewith of a driving connection between thearmature bar and the reciprocatory clipper blade, comprising spacedflanges on said blade extendingv longitudinally thereof and a pluralityof fiat thin sheet metal resilient arms in substantially fixedconnection with the armature `bar and having notched outer marginsreceiving the associated ends of the flanges in pressure engagementtherewith, said arms being adapted to yield longitudinally andtorsionally in the end portions which are connected to the clipperblade.

3. In an electro-magnetic hair clipper having a vibratory armature bar,a comb plate and a clipper blade adapted to'reciprocate upon the combplate, the combination therewith of a driving connection between thearmature bar and the reciprocatory clipper blade, comprising a set ofupwardly extending projections on the blade, a plurality of flat thinsheet metal `resilient arms having fixed connectionwith the armature barand having -ryielding end portions substantially paralleljwith saidblade and in edge contact,

under pressure, with said projections, said the pressure of said bladeupon the comb late.

p 4. In a hair clipper having a hollow handle provided with enclosedactuating mechanism and relatively fixed and movable blades at one endof the handle obliquely disposed across the axis thereof, thecombination with the movable blade, of a vibratory actuator within thehandle, connected with the blade by a plurality of fiat thin strips ofresilient sheet metal disposed generally along planes substantiallyparallel to the oblique plane occupied by the blade and having ends ininter-locking pressure engagement with the blade.

5. In a hair clipper having a hollow handle provided with enclosedactuating mechanism and relatively fixed and movable blades at one endof the handle obliquely disposed across the axis thereof, thecombination with the movable blade, of a vibratory actuator within thehandle, connected with the blade by a plurality of fiat thin strips ofresilient sheet metal disposed generally along planes substantiallyparallel to the oblique plane occupied .by the blade and having ends ininter-locking pressure engagement with the blade, said connector stripsbeing intermediately offset transversely of their fiat surfaces.

6. In a-hair clipper having a hollow handle provided with enclosedactuating mechanism and relatively fixed and movable blades of one endof the handle obliquely disposed across the'axis thereof, thecombination with the movable blade, of a vibratory actuator Within thehandle, connected with the blade by a plurality of fiat thin strips ofresilient sheet metal disposed generally along planes substantiallyparallel to the oblique plane occupied by the blade and having ends ininterlocking pressure engagement with the blade, said connector stripsbeing intermediately l offset transversely of their fiat surfaces andalso having portions obli uely offset in the planes of some of said suraces.

7. In an electro-magnetic hair clipper having a hollow handle providedwith actuating mechanism, relatively fixed and movable blades obliquelydispbsed across one end of the handle, spaced projections on the movableblade and a vibratory actuator withinthe handle having torsionallyyieldingl resilient connector strips interlocked with said. projectionsunder resilient pressure` exerted in the direction of the projectionsand also in the direction of the blade, said strips being adapted toyield both longitudinally and torsionally in accommodation withmovements of the blade which do not precisely conform with those of. theactuator. 1 p

8. In an electro-magnetic hair clipper a vibratory armature bar andareciprocatory clipper blade obliquely disposed across the plane of barvibration, in combination with a connector having fixed connection withsaid bar, and resiliently yielding bent arms having substantially fixedlateral pressure connections with the blade and being adapted to yieldtorsionally, and to also flex in a common plane to allow movements ofthe blade not in strict conformity to those of the connected end of thebar. L

9. In an electro-magnetic hair clipper hav-v ing a vibratory armaturebar and a reciprocatory clipper blade obliquely disposed across theplane of bar vibration in combination with a connector havingsubstantially fixed connections with said blade and bar and intermediateresiliently yielding bent arms adapted to yield torsionally and having abias toward a straight, line connection, and an adj ustable shunt barfor regulating the intensity of the magnetic field occupied by thearmature bar.

10. In an electro-magnetic hair clipper having a hollow handle providedwith an enclosed electro-magnet and associated armature bar and alsohaving an obliquely disposed combl plate and av superposed movable bladeat one end of the handle, in combination with a mounting for thearmature bar at the end of the handle distant from the movable blade7and a resilient connection between the other end of the armature bar andthe movable blade adapted to actuate the latter while holding it inuniform pressure relation to the comb plate, said armature bar havingits opposite end looped about the mounting and pivotall secured theretosubstantially in a central pl ane of the handle transverse to theblades, means associated with the mounting for varying the pressure ofthe armature upon said resilient connections, and means for adjustingthe mounting to vary the relation of the armature bar to the magnetpoles.

11. In an electro-magnetic hair clipper hav` ing a hollow handlecontaining a magnet and a vibratory armature bar, the combination, withthe handle, of an armature mounting in pivotally adjustable connectionwith the handle and means for locking the mounting to the handle invarious positions of pivotal adjustment.

12. In an electro-magnetic hair clipper having a hollow handlecontaining a magnet and a vibratory armature bar, the combination,

with the handle, of an armature mounting in 13. In an electro-magnetichair clipper having a hollow handle provided with an obliquely disposedcomb plate and superposed movable blade at one end of the handle, incombination with an electro-magnet having three substantially alignedpolar faces, a resilient armature bar in normally fixed relation to thehandle and extending along said polar faces, a resilient connectionbetween the armature bar and the movable blade in substantiallylixedconnection with the bar and blade respectively and having end portionsadapted to conform to the movement .of the blade in all portions of itsstroke.

14. In an electro-magnetic) hair clipper having a hollow handle,provided with an obliquely disposed comb plate and superposed movableblade at one end of the handle' in combination with an electro-magnethaving three substantially aligned polar faces, a resilient armature barin normally fixed relation to the handle and extending along said polarfaces, a resilient connection between the armature bar and the movableblade in substantially fixed connection with the bar and bladerespectively and having end portions adapted to conform to the movementof the blade in all portions of its stroke, and means for regulating theintensity of that portion of the magnetic field which includes said bar.

15. In an electro-magnetic hair clipper having a hollow handle providedwith an obliquely disposed comb plate and superposed movable blade atone end of the handle in combination with an electro-magnet having threesubstantially aligned polar faces, a resilient armature bar in normallyfixed relation to the handle and extending along'said polar faces, aresilient connection between the armature bar and the movable blade insubstantially fixed connection with the bar and blade respectively andhaving end portions adapted to conform to the movement of the lblade inall portions of its stroke, and means for regulating the intensity ofthat portion of the magnetic field which includes said bar, togetherwith means for varying the magnetic gap between the bar and polar faces.and means for varying the pressure transmitted by the bato the movableblade.

16. In an electro-magnetic hair clipper, the

i combination with a hollow handle provided with obliquely disposedfixed and removable clipper blades at one end thereof, of 4anelectro-magnet mounted in the handle with its core extendingtransversely and having polar faces of opposite polarity substantiallyaligned along one side of the handle, a fixed armature mounting in oneend portion of the handle, a resilient armature bar pivoted to themounting for swinging adjustment in a plane substantially at the centralaxis of the handle and transverse to the blades, said armature bar beinglooped about the mounting and extending along the side of the handle inproximity to the pole faces, with its extremity inturned between themagnet and the blades and resiliently connected with the movable blade.

17. In an electro-magnetic hair clipper2 the combination with a hollowhandle provlded with obliquely disposed fixed and removable clipperblades at one end thereof, of an elecfor swinging adjustment in a planesubstantially at the central axis of the handle and transverse to thelblades, said armature bar being looped about the mounting and extendingalong the side of the handle in proximity to the pole faces, with itsextremity inturned between the magnet and the blades and resilientlyconnected with the movable blade by a plurality of resilient actuatingarms having V shaped notches in their extremities in pressu`reengagement with projections on the blade, said arms being adapted toyield torsionally and in planes transverse to the blade.

18. In an electro-magnetic hair clipper, the combination with a hollowhandle provided with obliquely disposed fixed and removable clipperblades at one end thereof, of an electro-magnet mounted in the handlewith its core extending transversely and having polar faces of oppositepolarity substantially aligned along one side of the handle, a resilientarmature bar pivoted to the mounting for swinging adjustment in a planesubstantially at the central axis of the handle and transverse to theblades, said armature bar being looped about the mounting and extendingalong the side of the handle in proximity to the pole faces, with itsextremity inturned between the magnet and the blades and resilientlyconnected with the movable blade by a plurality of resilient actuatingarms having V shaped notches in their extremities in pressureengagement, with 'projections on the blade, said arms being adapted toyield torsionally and in planes transverse to the blade, and beinglocated on opposite sides of said mounting plane.

19. In an electro-magnetic hair clipper having a hollow handle and ahandle con-f tained armature mountin in pivotally adjustable connectionwith t e handle in combination with means for locking the mounting tothe handle at a point distant from its pivotal connection to hold it ina desired position of adjustment.

20. In an y electro-magnetic hair clipper having an electro-magneticpole piece and an associated armature bar, the combination therewith ofan adjustable shunt har extending along one side of the gap between thearmature bar and pole piece, said shunt bar being movable along the faceof the armature bar toward and away from said pole piece.

21. An electro-magnetic hair clipper provided with a pole piece and avibratory armature bar associated^ therewith, in combination with meansfor variably shunting a portion of the magnetic field around the gapbetween the pole piece and armature to regu- -late `.the intensity ofthe magnetic field.

r 22. The combination with an electrically driven hair clipper blade, ofmeans for varying the violence of the blade movement,comprisingamanually adjustable shunt armature controlling the energy tobe applied to the blade, said shunt being adapted during adjustment forcontinuous variation in the applied energy While the magnetic energyremains constant.

23. An electro-magnetic hair clipper adapted to manipulate under avarying load, and provided with means for maintaining a magnetic fieldof an intensity suited to installation conditions and duty requirements,said means being adapted during adjustment for continuously varying theener applied to the clipper blade While maintaining the magnet atconstant energy.

24. In a device of the described class, the combination with a hollowhandle, of a vibratory armature bar therein, an electro-magnet havingone pole in proximity to the intermediate portion of the armature barandy the other ole provided with extensions in correspon 'ng proximityto the armature bar at opposite sides ofthe first mentioned pole,

and a shunt bar adjustable into and out of proximity with said poles toregulate the intensity of the magnetic field occupied by the armaturebar.

MATHEW ANDIS.

